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This News Service is posted by the International Secretariat of Amnesty
International, 1 Easton Street, London WC1X 8DJ (Tel +44-71-413-5500,
Fax +44-71-956-1157)
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AI INDEX: EUR/44/08/96
News Service 10/96



TURKEY: JOURNALIST BEATEN TO DEATH IN POLICE CUSTODY-
CONCLUSION OF AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL INVESTIGATION


Two Amnesty International delegates, a lawyer and a former
police officer, travelled to Turkey from 11 to 14 January to
investigate the death of journalist Metin Goktepe on 8
January 1996 in Istanbul.

      The two delegates who spoke with Turkish authorities
and eye-witnesses stated:~Metin Goktepe was found dead in a
Sport Centre which was at the time being used by the police
as detention centre. We expect the Turkish authorities,
therefore, to give a complete account of their findings into
his death.~

      The detention of Metin Goktepe on 8 January at about 12
noon in the Alibeykoy district of Istanbul was witnessed by
fellow journalists who gave detailed testimony. Metin Goktepe
was detained while covering the funeral of two political
prisoners who were beaten to death on 4 January at Umraniye
prison.

      According to official accounts, on 8 January 1,035
person were detained in connection with the funeral; 705 of
them were transferred to Eyup Sports Centre. The Eyup Sport
Centre is surrounded by a 3.5m high wall. Witnesses reported
to Amnesty International that detainees in the Eyup Sport
Centre and  in the Alibeykoy police station were severely
beaten.

      The Eyup Public Prosecutor confirmed that Metin
Goktepe~s body was found on 8 January at 8.30 pm near a
buffet in the Eyup Sport Centre. The Sport Centre was used by
police as detention centre until 11.30 pm that day.

      According to medical experts, Metin Goktepe was clearly
beaten to death. The autopsy report of 9 January by the
Forensic Medicine Department at Istanbul University revealed
that Metin Goktepe~s death ~resulted from subdural and
subarachnoidal brain haemorrhage associated with trauma to
the head from a blunt object and internal bleeding~.

      On 16 January the State Minister with responsibility
for Human Rights, Adnan Ekmen, informed the press: ~The body
of Metin Goktepe was found inside the Sport Centre and not as
first suggested in a park nearby. His bag was also found in
the Sport Centre. [...] It seems clear that Metin Goktepe
died there.~

      The Turkish authorities are currently conducting
investigations into the death of Metin Goktepe. Amnesty
International is calling on the Turkish authorities further
to investigate fully and impartially the reported  ill-
treatment of detainees by police on 8 January.
ENDS\


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